Ben’s Saddlery
174 N. Tegner Street, Wickenburg, benssaddlery.com
When it opened on North Tegner Street in 1955, this celebrated Wickenburg shop was Ray’s Saddlery and Repair, named for its owner, Ray Bybee. The name changed when Ben Billingslea purchased the store in the 1970s. Then, after one more change in ownership, Jeanie Hankins (pictured) bought the business in 2024. “Ben’s Saddlery is known as the ‘Arizona Cowboy Headquarters,’ ” Hankins says. “We cater to working cowboys, providing everything from bedrolls to saddles, hats, boots, belts, tack and more.” Ben’s also carries gift items, jewelry and purses. “As a Wickenburg native, I was raised in the Western lifestyle,” Hankins says. “I love carrying on the heritage of our historic town and sharing it with others.”
West Major
Available at various Arizona shops, westmajor.com
For owner and creator Nick Wetta (pictured), the idea for West Major really began back in high school. “I’d go to Buffalo Exchange and occasionally find these really cool, lightweight, vintage Western shirts that I loved,” he says. “It got me thinking, Why can’t someone re-create these today?” So, after a stint working in television after college, he started making them. Now, West Major offers a line of vintage-inspired Western shirts, all handmade in the United States. “Being the only Western shirt company not only in Phoenix, but the entire state,” Wetta says, “I feel like we have a cool opportunity to create something that feels like it should have always existed, but didn’t.”
David’s Western Wear
346 N. Morley Avenue, Nogales, davidsww.com
After the loss of their father, David Moore Jr. (pictured) and his sisters took over the family business of building custom boots in the heart of Nogales. “Everything is done by hand,” Moore says. “There are no machines, none of that. We keep it the same way that boots were made 100 years ago.” This, to the Moores, was the most important part of keeping their father’s legacy alive in David’s Western Wear — ensuring that their boots remain entirely handcrafted by the team that works alongside the family. In addition to boots, the popular shop offers custom hat shaping, belts, buckles and Western clothing.
Scottsdale Belt Co.
Available online at azbelt.com
Since 1972, Brenda and Manny Brulport have been making custom belts — first in their New England hometown and now in Scottsdale. Each belt is made from a single piece of full-grain, high-quality leather that’s been organically tanned. “The high quality — the pride — of us making them right and putting the extra effort in, regardless of whether or not it takes a little longer, and the fact that it’s a family business make this company so special,” Manny (pictured) says. In addition to belts, the company offers bracelets, wallets and dog collars.
Arizona Hatters
2790 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, arizonahatters.com
When Mark and Anne Contento purchased Arizona Hatters in 2016, they took over a shop that had been in business since 1935. And they were determined to continue its intimate connection to Tucson’s ranchers, cowboys and other customers who appreciate Western hats. “I can’t say there is one particular step that is most gratifying, as each hat has unique elements that bring quite a bit of joy,” says hatmaker Max Larkin (pictured). “But you really know if a hat is going to be good after sanding. It goes from a rough-textured, furry body to this beautifully polished hat that is softer to the touch than anything you’ve ever felt. It still gets me excited to feel the hat immediately after sanding.”
Geno’s Custom Saddles
401 E. Allen Street, Tombstone, deambrose.com
A deep love of the Wild West laid the foundation for Geno’s Custom Saddles in “The Town Too Tough to Die.” Owner and saddle maker Geno D’Ambrose (pictured) grew up around horses and worked for a saddle maker in Payson before opening his own business in Tombstone in the 1980s. D’Ambrose says one saddle takes a minimum of 80 hours to complete, but seeing customers delight in one of his creations makes it worthwhile. “It’s so rewarding,” he says, “knowing that the finished product is going to make a horse happy … and maybe a customer happy, too.”